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funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A spicy hockey romcom that I couldn’t put down. This was a fun read, and I love the main- and supporting characters. There’s a lot of character development and the side plots are good.
I think this is my favorite book in the series.
I think this is my favorite book in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the teasing and play arguing and the bickering. We cute book and it was so perfect for me right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Well, I definitely liked it better than the first one. And I give it an extra .25 star for Connor Crais' voice alone, which was the whole reason I wanted to listen to this book to begin with. I swear, that man and the noises he makes... 🔥🌶
Anyway, liked the story, nothing new, pretty predictable of course, but it was okay. I liked the characters better, and we loooove a boi obsessed!✨️🫰🏻
The next story does intrigue me, which I wasn't expecting. Not enough to spend money on the audiobook, though (as it is not narrated by the incomparable Connor Crais, that would've been a different story). But I may give it a shot in KU.
Anyway, liked the story, nothing new, pretty predictable of course, but it was okay. I liked the characters better, and we loooove a boi obsessed!✨️🫰🏻
The next story does intrigue me, which I wasn't expecting. Not enough to spend money on the audiobook, though (as it is not narrated by the incomparable Connor Crais, that would've been a different story). But I may give it a shot in KU.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Behind the Net, I did NOT like Rory Miller. However, this book does a great job of explaining why he is the way he is (or was—there’s excellent character development here) and redeeming him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual assault
Great representations of affirmative consent!
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Alcohol
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 Skating Lesson Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Giddy! That is how this book makes you feel! Utterly and completely GIDDY! It had me kicking and squealing, giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush and just overall shaking my legs at how cute and awesome it was.
I was elated at the events that happened and loved how things unfurled. The two flirting with each other was excellent and the way these two migrated from fake to not fake was TEXTBOOK PERFECTION on how to pull off that trope FANTASTICALLY! (Mostly because the lines blurred so well you weren't sure when they realised this is no longer fake between them - because it was WELL BEFORE they told each other).
Hazel is the team's physiotherapist and older sister of Piper, who was the main character in Behind the Net. Hazel has a dilemma, her cheating ex-boyfriend has just been traded into the hockey team she works for and she is assigned as his physiotherapist. He is also the reason Hazel has closed off her heart to any professional sports player - because you can't get hurt if you never open yourself to it in the first place. Rory has been secretly pining after Hazel since she was his math tutor in high school, so to keep her Ex at bay, the two strike up a fake relationship as a way to hinder any advances that her ex might make.
This book does interpersonal relationships really well. Especially how difficult it can be to maintain and work on those relationships. Hazel's relationship with her mother is quite strained as her mother is battling with a body image problem. She was a ballerina that hasn't been able to dance for a while, so is super critical of how she looks. As a result, she doesn't allow herself to try any experiences because of how her body would be perceived. This goes against everything Hazel is trying to achieve with her dream of opening a body-positive yoga studio.
Rory has a strained relationship with both his parents. He believes that choosing hockey and staying with his dad forced his mom away. However, with age, it's become clear that his dad seems to love hockey and only hockey. Being Rory's agent he pushes Rory in directions that don't make him happy anymore causing conflict between the two.
Hazel and Rory's relationship was absolutely beautiful because the two of them bring out the best in each other. Rory makes Hazel see that she can do anything. She can make her dreams a reality and her presence makes people's lives better. He helps her overcome her fear of love and the underlying trauma her ex caused and helps her see how amazing she is. Likewise Hazel makes Rory find his love for hockey again. At the start of the book, has lost touch with what the game means to him. Due to his father's influence, he is just going through the motions and being who he thinks his father wants him to be. But Hazel changes his perspective, opens his heart to collaboration and teamwork and gives him the chance to be his own type of role model allowing him to balance life and hockey in a way his parents never managed to do when he was growing up.
The spice in this was also fun! Rory makes Hazel feel incredibly sexy by sending her a shit ton of lingerie which the two of and enjoy through various phone exchanges and spicy scenes.
Tropes in this include:
▶Enemies Hate to Love
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Golden Retriever/Cinnamon Roll
▶ Fake Dating
▶ No Third Act Breakup
▶ It's always been you
▶ Forehead Kisses
Overall this felt just like a sweet and cute Hallmark movie, that is just going to make you giddy and smile. It was absolutely adorable and a fantastic book to pick up if you are looking for your next hockey romance fix!
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Giddy! That is how this book makes you feel! Utterly and completely GIDDY! It had me kicking and squealing, giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush and just overall shaking my legs at how cute and awesome it was.
I was elated at the events that happened and loved how things unfurled. The two flirting with each other was excellent and the way these two migrated from fake to not fake was TEXTBOOK PERFECTION on how to pull off that trope FANTASTICALLY! (Mostly because the lines blurred so well you weren't sure when they realised this is no longer fake between them - because it was WELL BEFORE they told each other).
Hazel is the team's physiotherapist and older sister of Piper, who was the main character in Behind the Net. Hazel has a dilemma, her cheating ex-boyfriend has just been traded into the hockey team she works for and she is assigned as his physiotherapist. He is also the reason Hazel has closed off her heart to any professional sports player - because you can't get hurt if you never open yourself to it in the first place. Rory has been secretly pining after Hazel since she was his math tutor in high school, so to keep her Ex at bay, the two strike up a fake relationship as a way to hinder any advances that her ex might make.
This book does interpersonal relationships really well. Especially how difficult it can be to maintain and work on those relationships. Hazel's relationship with her mother is quite strained as her mother is battling with a body image problem. She was a ballerina that hasn't been able to dance for a while, so is super critical of how she looks. As a result, she doesn't allow herself to try any experiences because of how her body would be perceived. This goes against everything Hazel is trying to achieve with her dream of opening a body-positive yoga studio.
Rory has a strained relationship with both his parents. He believes that choosing hockey and staying with his dad forced his mom away. However, with age, it's become clear that his dad seems to love hockey and only hockey. Being Rory's agent he pushes Rory in directions that don't make him happy anymore causing conflict between the two.
Hazel and Rory's relationship was absolutely beautiful because the two of them bring out the best in each other. Rory makes Hazel see that she can do anything. She can make her dreams a reality and her presence makes people's lives better. He helps her overcome her fear of love and the underlying trauma her ex caused and helps her see how amazing she is. Likewise Hazel makes Rory find his love for hockey again. At the start of the book, has lost touch with what the game means to him. Due to his father's influence, he is just going through the motions and being who he thinks his father wants him to be. But Hazel changes his perspective, opens his heart to collaboration and teamwork and gives him the chance to be his own type of role model allowing him to balance life and hockey in a way his parents never managed to do when he was growing up.
The spice in this was also fun! Rory makes Hazel feel incredibly sexy by sending her a shit ton of lingerie which the two of and enjoy through various phone exchanges and spicy scenes.
Tropes in this include:
▶
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Found Family
▶ Golden Retriever/Cinnamon Roll
▶ Fake Dating
▶ No Third Act Breakup
▶ It's always been you
▶ Forehead Kisses
Overall this felt just like a sweet and cute Hallmark movie, that is just going to make you giddy and smile. It was absolutely adorable and a fantastic book to pick up if you are looking for your next hockey romance fix!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault